There was an almost plaintive note in his anger.

Even his voice took on the plaintive note of a young boy who had lost his way.

There was a plaintive note in his voice: "I can't even talk to her anymore."

A long way off, a plaintive note rang in the hot, moist air.

The plaintive note in her question made him smile.

A plaintive note asks, "Believe in progress, how is it possible?"

Constantly they gave tongue to a plaintive note of calling.

There was an odd, plaintive note in his voice.

Then, in spite of everything, a plaintive note crept into her voice.

There was a plaintive note to the dry rasp this time.